The pleura is the skin that lines the inside of the chest and lies on top of the lungs. Accordingly, it is in contact with the lungs and thorax, but also with the mediastinum – the space in the middle of the thorax where the heart is located – as well as the diaphragm and esophagus. In medical terminology, the pleura is called the pleura, the space between the ribcage and the lungs is called the pleural space.
Definition
In medical terms it is called pleuritis, an inflammation of the pleura. This inflammation can have its origin both in the pleura itself and in the neighboring organs. A dry pleurisy is when the inflammation occurs without the production of fluid, so-called exudate.
The technical term is pleuritis sicca (sicca=dry). The dry pleuritis often changes into the wet form of pleuritis (=exudative). In this case exudate is formed, which accumulates as an effusion in the pleural gap and then restricts breathing.
Causes
The causes of dry pleuritis are manifold. It is often a concomitant symptom of a lung disease. It does not matter whether it is a bacterial or viral infection.
In severe cases, both can spread to the pleura. Examples of bacterial inflammation are pneumonia and abscesses or tuberculosis. Severe bronchitis, which is usually more likely caused by viruses, can also cause an accompanying inflammation of the pleura.
An infection with the Coxsackie B virus, also known as Bornholm disease, also causes pleuritis. Diseases of the entire organism can also attack the pleura and cause dry pleurisy. These include the group of collagenoses, for example rheumatoid arthritis or lupus erythematosus, or a uremic metabolic condition (pathologically increased proportion of urea in the blood). Cancer diseases that have spread into the lungs or pleura or have their origin there also cause dry pleurisy there. The blockage of a pulmonary artery (pulmonary infarction, pulmonary embolism) can also cause pleurisy in the course of the disease.
